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The cruise from Somerleyton to Great Yarmouth firstly via St Olaves for fuel and water and then across the expanse of Breydon Water, stopping at the Great Yarmouth Marinaso that we could walk to the beach. Time with the children in Joyland and for a ride on a Pony and Landau along to Pleasurebeach for more rides and back to The Lady by taxi. The US are calling for a UK ban on arms to Iran after a stalemate in the Gulf and oil has risen to $20 per barrel. British holidaymakers are injured in a Tunisian bomb attack, Israel seal off part of the Gaza Strip after a bomb attack and at home Rupert Murdoch is embroiled in more controversy.
The day started a bit damp after some overnight rain, but we had slept well and were awake early. I tossed a slipper over to Di’s bed to get her going and soon we had our morning drinks. Read more of The Broadlands Plan and found it interesting, before the girls were up and about and it was time to keep them amused. Our simple breakfast and then we readied the boats and set off early with the tide in our favour. Made good progress and then stopped at St Olaves for petrol and water and were somewhat startled when advised by the boatyard that we were later than ideal for our trip to Great Yarmouth.
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The morning sailing in Oulton Broad and then some time at The Waveney Leisure Centre before cruising on to Somerleyton in convoy with other boats and mooring at the public staithe so that we could visit this estate village with its shop and post office. Then to visit Somerleyton Hall and first its gardens and maize, its miniature railway and its tea room to complete a very full and enjoyable day without time for the news.
Slept well enough and Di had already put the kettle on to boil when I woke up at 7.00am. She was slower to drink her coffee and get washed and dressed and so the children were upon us and the routine somewhat dented. Things back to normal at breakfast. We all weighed ourselves this morning and seem to be on the better side of our weight targets. After the meal, I went sailing, whilst Di took the girls for their last play in Oulton’s Nicholas Everett Park and Daniel filled The Lady with fresh water. I sailed around the eastern and northern sides of the Broad on this quiet Sunday morning and was impressed on the east side by the quiet backwater where council flats and private moorings enclose a nice area for recreation.
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A breezy time overnight in Oulton and Daniel entertaining the girls on the playground until we took the minibus to Lowestoft to find the banks, some milk from the dairy and drinks and snacks in ‘Tooks’, the bakers. Amusements afterwards and time on the beach and then an abortive attempt to arrange for a sea trip for The Little Lady due to Mutford Lock restrictions before some sailing on Oulton Broad. US warships are escorting US flagged oil tankers through the Gulf and Spy-catcher becomes a best-seller in Canada, whilst tornados have ripped apart their City of Edmonton
A poor night for me, but the rest of the family slept well enough. The wind was up and waves tossing the boat and slapping against the hulls, making for a disturbed night. It was calm towards dawn and I managed to sleep then. A nice, sunny start to the day, after a night that was humid and warm as well. The girls were upon us again early and became restless as well because Di was slow to get going and I was reading more of the report on the Broads by the Broads Authority. It explained how the ecology of the broads has been destroyed by the nitrate & phosphate enrichment of agriculture and sewage disposal and the loss of the marginal reed beds, accelerated as well by the wash of powered craft. They have detailed proposals to deal with the problems and I hope the new Bill allows for the money and support for their plans.